crabbed

[ krab-id, krabd ]

adjective

1. grouchy; ill-natured; irritable; churlish.

   Synonyms: cantankerous, peevish, cross

2. perverse; contrary; obstinate.
3. hard to understand; intricate and obscure.
4. difficult to read or decipher, as handwriting.

crabbed

/ ˈkræbɪd /

adjective

1. surly; irritable; perverse
2. (esp of handwriting) cramped and hard to decipher

Derived Forms

• ˈcrabbedly, adverb
• ˈcrabbedness, noun

Other Words From

• crab·bed·ly adverb
• crab·bed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crabbed¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; crab ³, -ed ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of crabbed¹

C13: probably from crab ¹(from its wayward gait), influenced by crab ( apple ) (from its tartness)

Example Sentences

Nobody wanted to hand a plum invasion spot to some fat egghead from a snooty rag, he crabbed.

From The Daily Beast

Many years ago I was very much wounded (but I said nothing) to hear myself spoken of as a churl, an impossible and crabbed man.

From Project Gutenberg

She took the paper almost mechanically, and for some moments she studied the crabbed signature before realizing whose it was.

From Project Gutenberg

And very keenly and bitterly had she been made to feel during those first few months her dependence upon the crabbed old miller.

From Project Gutenberg

Am I sure that I myself have not crabbed my own show a bit in telling the full story of our fight to K. this afternoon?

From Project Gutenberg

"Generally crabbed and reticent with strangers, he took a liking to me," says Emma Lazarus.

From Project Gutenberg